Uniform glove skin stretch distributor and method



Jap. 17, 1939. c. H. JOHANSON UNIFORM GLOVE SKIN STRETCH DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD Filed Aug. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l &m

J. 17, 1939. c. H. JOHANSON UNIFORM GLOVE SKIN STRETCH DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD Filed Aug. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m rs 5 Q R 1%,. Q, C v

Jan. 17, 1939. c. H JoHANsoN UNIFORM GLOVE SKIN STRETCH DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD Filed Aug. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C Z/Zia 21 50 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 oFFlCE UNIFORM GLOVE, SKIN, STRETCH DISTRIB- UTOR- ANDLY'METHOD- I Carl Hugo Jo hanson LosAngeles, Calif assignmto Olivia S. Johanson, LosAngeles-Calif.

Application-August 17, 1936, SBriaI'NO. 96,415

11 Claims.

This invention is an apparatus andmethod for the preparation-of gloveskins or other suitable material for-the cutting out of the several-pieces going intc'the structure of hand fitting gloves;

It has long beenthe practice to moistenthe commercialskinand then proceed'with a manual stretching process to work outthe skin and give ita condition ready forthecuttingoutof the desired blanks. The operator grasped; opposite extremities of the skin in his hands-and then tensioned that portion extending from hand to hand, a-portion'about four inches wide; with a pull of fifty pounds more or less, and at the same time reciprocating the skin from hand to hand over the corner of the work bench; When the artisan judges that all the stretch." has been taken out of'that portion of the skin extending from hand to handhethen takes-a fresh-grip on the next adjacent four inch portionat thesame opposite edges of the skin and makes another stretching operation; and repeats until he has stretched thewhole skin-,one wa-y'all over.

After the skin hasbeen-thus stretched the operator then-follows the same-procedure in-a transversedirectiori throughout-the ski-n by pulling successive -four inchzones one after the other-.- This contracts the skin-on lines" reverse to thefirst-pull-ing treatment-that is'it shortens the skin that was elongated. -It-will beseen that there is no certainty that the "skin has-been uniformly stretched ineither direct-ion;-or-that-=there is any uniformity in the degree of latent stretch which the cutter must rely -upon-for obtaining the desired degree of lea-theror stretch' in agiven blank which-iscut from the stretched skin-.- "In other words the stretch is different indifferent areas of the-skin." This is an obvious disadvantage incident to the tedious; indefinite anduncertain hand method of stretching-the skin;-increased by fatigueof-the operator; Commercial skins vary in size -fromtwo square to twelve square feet, and the smaller skins are over stretched. Only by years of experience can the operator approach desired unif0rm--distribution of stretch of leatherin the skin;-

Therefore, an object of this inventionis to provide a method and means whereby to produce-a glove skin in-which the stretch is distributed in substantially uniform degree throughout the skin, far more evenly than is possible by hand labor.

Anobject is to'provide for pulling a skin in one direction in one operation throughout-a large area extending from one margin to the opposite margin for the full width-across'the' skinhe- 'tween the'said margins with a uniform degree of' tension from marginto margin, and to provide for then subjecting the skin -in'one operation "to tensionsubstantially throughout its area-in adi'rection transverse to-the direction of the first te'nsionin-geffort, in each pullproviding for 'the carefulcontrolof the amountof tension so a to provide for a desired amount of'la-tent-stre'tch either way in the blanks cut'from the skin, as

will'be setforth below.

Arr-object is to provideior the tensioning of the skin'irr'suc'h a manner that those areas of -'the skin-where the material is thick may be worked out with a higherdegree of tension'than where the skinmay be thinner and require less' tension, and-further-to provide for the direct or --1oca1'-'applicationof tension to certain-portions -wher'e there isknown to be a greater capacity of stretch; as *inthe shoulders, the center of the rump} and in the belly flank edges of the skin, andwhich willbe called herein the sides of the skin, while theshoulder and the rump will be called the ends-of the skin, for convenience of 'descr-iptiony-The term glove skin is here intended "to include allother stretchable material usedinthe manufacture of hand-fitting gloves.

Broad1y-an-object is-to provide a method and means to eliminate the objectionable features of -manu'ally-stretchedglove skins-by creating a product'in which the latent stretch is far more evenly distributed; to-do this with a minimum of hand1abor,and in a much shorter period'of time" per skin operation. And to provide an apparatus-for the stated'purpose which-is simple,

practical; easily operative and involves but a minimum of handling operations.

Aside from the several principal objectives above outlined the invention consists of numerousother advancements in thisart as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and'whose construction, combination and details of rnean's, and the manner of operation and method of production will be made manifest in the-description of the'herewith illustrative em' bodiment; :it being understood that modificagripping means being shifted inward to starting position. Fig. 3 is a cross section of an upper gripping roller support. Fig. 4 is a detail of a roller brake. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan, partly in section, and an edge elevation of a stretching web device; in part. Fig. 7 is an elevational section and Fig. 8 a fragmentary plan of a stretching device of modified form. Fig. 9 is a plan of a glove skin. Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive diagrammatically show successive positions of a pair of the gripping devices in one stretching operation. Fig. 14 is a plan of a size and stretch scale or guide.

There is shown a glove skin G which has been uniformly stretched in one operation by even tension between means gripping the rump end R and the shoulder end S from belly flank side F to the opposite flank edge F so that the whole area of the skin extending between the gripping means, later described, is characterized by an even distribution of stretched material. Preferably the skin is not stretched to the maximum degree lengthwise so that there still remains some lengthwise, potential stretch of desired ratio to a glove measure unit so that the blanks for a glove, when out from the prepared skin, will have capacity for stretch along the back of the hand. This is an important feature for its purpose is to provide for the closing of the wearers hand in the ultimate glove without pulling of the back of the glove up the back of the hand and to avoid the wrinkling of the fingers and glove back which is incident to gloves which are made up of backs which have been stretched, as is the general common trade practice, longitudinally to such a degree that the glove back has no such capacity for stretch on the hand as is secured by the present invention.

A shaded zone r in the rump R indicates a portion of the skin to which it is desirable to give a special stretching treatment to place therein an equal degree of stretch with the main or large proportion of the skin. Shaded zones .s-s at the shoulder end, and shaded zones f at the flanks or sides or belly portion of the skin are likewise to be specially tensioned to equalize the potential stretch therein with the main area of the skin.

The longitudinally stretched skin is then gripped by means extending continuously along of the thick back portion extending from the rump to the neck or shoulder end and this area from free edge to free edge at each end B to S is in one operation uniformly tensioned by relatively separating the gripping means. This transverse stretching of the longitudinally stretched skin results in its contraction longitudinally to a degree determined by the degree of transverse stretch. This latter is in an amount of predetermined ratio to a given unit of measure so that in the cut blanks these will be stretchable across the hand so much to the unit as will be required for the true size of a. given size of glove. Hence the glove will have inherent capacity for cross and length stretch.

An apparatus is here shown as including a substantial table or horizontal frame or bench 2 one end of which is provided with a trans- '6, is adapted to be inserted in one of a series of pin holes 1 in the table to fasten the beam 3 at a desired position. This beam is provided with means to receive, grip and tension the applied end, as R, of a skin G. The means is shown as including a lower, elongated element 8 in the form of a cylinder whose ends are supported in bearings 9 fixed on the ends of the beam 3. The element 8 may be of rubber and as shown in Fig. 1, has a laterally projecting, longitudinally extending web or fin 8 which may be moved up from the position shown by means of a hand lever l0 fixed to the shaft end of the element, Fig. 1. This lever I3 is provided with a suitable locking latch ll engageable with the teeth of a rack segment l2 fixed on the beam 3 so that the web ll and its cylinder may be locked at desired position. 7

Extending along and above the element 8 is a complementary elongated, rubber or rubber jacketed roller [5 having end trunnions mounted in bearings l6 provided on the adjacent face of a bar ll having rearwardly and downwardly directed arms l8 suitably pivoted at I9 on the beam 3. In Fig. 3 there is shown a spring 20 normally pressing the roller bar I! upward just out of contact with the lower element 8 between which and the upper roller the rump end B of a skin G may be smoothly laid. To facilitate the insertion of the skin the roller bar I! may be tilted back out of the way by the operator of the machine.

Means are provided by which to forcibly press the'upper roller down onto the lower, skin resting element 8 sothat these will cooperate to form a gripping device to hold the inserted margin of the skin continuously from one side edge to the other. For this purpose a lever arm 2| is pivoted at 22 on the beam 3 and has a variable spring contact 23 which is adjusted by a set screw 24 in the arm and is designed to be brought over into engagement with a part of the roller bar I! in its gripping position and determine the degree of pressure with which the roller I5 is pressed onto the inserted glove skin. The arm 2|. has a link 25 extended to the opposite end of the table 2 so that an operator there may throw off the pressure arm 2i at will. The link 25 may be secured at desired position under a set or clamp screw 26, in the nature of a tool post clamp.

On the opposite or skin shoulder gripping end of the machine the table is provided with a cross beam having a slide 3| slidable in slide- -ways 32 along the axis of the table; the slide having a bottom block 33 running in a table channel 34 and being firmly attached to a suitable means whereby the slide beam 30 may be positively moved in either direction toward or from the skin clamping device mounted on the remote carrier or beam 3; the beams 3 and 30 being in the present machine in parallel relation and movable only to change the spatial distance. The block 33 is shown as attached the channel 34 and extending thence forward .to a drum 3'! on which it is wrapped to obtain friction. The drum 31 is fixed on a cross-shaft 38 on which is secured a hand wheel 39 by the operation of which the operator at the shoulder of the table may effect the shift of the attached slide beam 3|] to inner position, Fig. 2, in such relation to the rump slide .3 as to permit the insertion of a short skin G between an upper roller 40 and a lower parallel element M which are generally similar to the gripping roller [5 rump holding means device t-l5 on the rump 39. The upperroller 40 is pressed to gripping position by a lever 44 pivoted on the beam 30 and acting in the same manner as the clamp lever .Zl. The upper roller M! is supported on a yieldable and tiltable bar 45 of thesame type as the bar ll andmay be thrown back clear of the lower, complementary gripping element 4| to facilitate the quick insertion of the adjacent transverse margin of a skin in a smooth position from one side edge of the skin to the other for a continuous grip in the device for the length of the margin. Y

With a skin gripped in and extending from the rump grip means to the shoulder grip means, the operator turns the hand wheel 39 gradually .to pull the slide beam 31! away from the stationary 8-45 so that the entire area of the skin between the grippingmeans is subjected to a uniform degree of tension and the stretch is distributed evenly throughout all the tensioned leather. It is preferred not to stretch the skin lengthwise to its reasonable limit but to leave some degree of stretch for elongation of the finished glove on the wearers hand.

The web 8 Fig. 2, is so designed and arranged that when the gripping elements 8-5 are released to allow the rump margin of .the interposed skin G to be pulled through, the web 8 may be tilted up by its lever ill to firmly press the engaged skin at the zone 1' to specially tension this to equalize its leather stretch with that of the main body of the skin. This effect is secured by the further and continuous retraction of the pulling slide 3! while its gripping device is closed on the skin.

When the rump end of the skin G has been so worked out by the special web 8 the rump end is again arranged and -caught in the gripping beam 3 and while so gripped the shoulder beam at is continued in its outward movement as to the stationary slide beam 3 and at the same time the pressure lever 44 is shifted to release the roller 48 so that this may turn while at the same time the handle 42 of the member at is shifted so as to tilt upward special contoured webs di provided along the member ll and designed and arranged to. press up against the shoulder zones s-s of the neck end of the skin G; whereby to give these zones the desired distribution of latent stretch. This operation effects the desired degree of stretch of the whole skin longitudinally; from rump to neckin one substantially continuous operation the tension being uniform and substantially parallel to the side edges of the skin, the full width of the skin being operated on in the one treatment in contrast to the succession of treatments of longitudinal Zones with various degrees of hand power or tension between the outstretched arms of an operative, who may be male or female.

The skin having been so tensioned lengthwise, the slides S- SQ are relatively separated to such a degree as will allow the skin to be mounted and gripped in means which are operable to apply the desired degree of transverse tension to the skin, in the same machine, immediately following the first or lengthening stretch just above described, to take advantage of its moistened state.

include apair of longitudinal parallel slide-beams 50 and 5! having respective slides 50' and 5| operating in slideways 52-53 in the table 2. These beams are provided with respective skin gripping means substantially similar to the rump and shouldergripping means and include upper rollers 54 and 55 lying along andabove lower rest members 56 and 51, respectively; this set of gripping means being materially longer than the end set gripping the rump and the shoulder for the reason that the longitudinal gripping means operate on the now elongated skingiven by the first treatment.

The grip carrying beam 50 is now moved inward by suitable means such as an endless belt iiilattached to the slide 50 and binding one. drum .Bl mounted under the table 2 and having a shaft 62 turnable by a hand wheel 63 at the shoulder side of the table to be conveniently manipulated by the operator. To secure the concurrent inward shift of the opposite beam5l to bring its grip device in toward the axis'of the table, if so desired, the two beams 50-5l are adapted to be mechanically connected for coaction either inwardly or outwardly.

To this object the shaft 62 is provided with a transmission connection 64, such as a sprocket chain device, driving a clutch part 65 for a transmission devicefifi including a reverse drive belt 61 engaging a sprocket .wheel 68 fixed on a shaft.

nected to the relative slide .5l'.

When it is desired to shiftboth slides 5| and 53 inward at one time or outward at one time the operator throws a lever13 to close the clutch element 65 into mesh with the free transmission wheel 66 of the belt 61 which will now drive the shaft 69, and thereby effect shift of the two slides 50--5l' at one time. If the clutch 65 is not closed the slides 5il'5| may be shifted independently in either direction as to the center of the table.

The beams 5il-5l are shown in Fig.1 as. arranged in inwardly adjusted positions for the purpose of permitting the mounting of a first elongated skin between the gripping means so that these will be closed upon the skin on parbetween the opposed gripping devices on the beams 5fi-5l levers l5 and 16 of clamp means similar to that of lever 2|, are closed on the mounting bars 54 and 55*- of the relative rollers 54-55 to firmly press them down on the interposed skin and the beam slides are then moved outward together or singly as desired to impart -a suitable degree of transverse tension to the longitudinal, central portion of-the back of the skin. Then the gripping pressure may be somewhat released in one of the gripping. devices 54--56 or 55-5l and this is shifted outward by its slide, while the opposite gripping device remains still, for the purpose of tensioning ofv one flank side to the suitable degree, after which the other flank is worked out by a similar procedure. Both flanks may be drawn at the same time if found desirable. Release of pressure .of the upper rollers in the several gripping devices reduces the tension and allows the rollersto rotate witha reduction ofsliding friction .on the skin.

The lower gripping elements 5651 are provided with special tensioning webs 5657 respectively to be moved by end levers :PIESS against the zones falong the flank edges of the skin for the equal distribution of the stretch in the local leather. When the zones of one side flank are being treated the skin is firmly held in the gripping device of the opposite side, this being closed on the skin at any desired longitudinal line along the skin, the distance of which from the edge of the flank being treated varying with different skins.

' stretch throughout the skin.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the special tensioning device includes a strip of firm, but flexible rubber 8 fixed in the lower gripping element 8 and having its outer edge slit to form short, adjacent fingers 8 to engage the skin at the given zones 1'; this form of web being employed also on the other zones s and f.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the special tensioning fingers 8 are attached to an elongated strip 81) mounted on the shaft of the lower grip element S for in- :dependent uptilting action as to the element 8 which in this form is a free roller cooperating with the upper roller I5; it being understood that this embodiment of gripping means may be employed throughout on the several slide beams,

if so desired.

Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, show successive positions of the opposed set of gripping device for longitudinally (or transversely) stretching the .main area of the skin and the special web finger treatment of the stated zones 1', s or f, as the case may be.

If desired a suitable brake may be employed to firmly secure the upper gripping rollers against rotation when clamping a skin. In Fig. 4 is shown a lever 82 pivoted on a roller bar (as I1) and carrying a pivoted wedge 83 which may be jammed down between the roller l5 and the bar to act as a brake on the roller.

The first tensioning of the skin to stretch it, say to increase it by a ratio of one third, may be either way of the skin but it is preferred to work it out transversely first by setting the long rollers 55-54 in close to the center of the thick back of the skin to initially apply the higher degree of tension along this area, then the flanks are uniformly tensioned to evenly distribute the latent stretch over the whole skin. The skin is then clamped between the rump and the shoulder engaging rollers l5-4il and a uniform longitudinal tension exerted to obtain an increase of about one-third in its length, if this be the stretch ratio adopted. That is skins may be readily stretched along their length from eighteen inches original to a stretched length of twenty-four inches, and so on up according to the original length of the skin. The same ratio of stretch is available in the skin for its stretch transverse to the initial line of stretch. By use of a plotted table chart laid off for the ratio of longitudinal and transverse stretch desired it will be seen that the operator can rapidly by this machine produce glove skins of the desired evenness of latent stretch all through. Such a table chart is shown in Fig. 14 where a size column 9Q of inch marks or indices have indicators Hi to stretch indices 92 for ratio of stretch for the length of a skin.

Transverse to the length indicator there is a size column 93 for the width of the skin with indicators 94 to stretch indives 95 for ratio of stretch. The operator may stretch the skin either way as the condition of the skin determines for the best cutting results.

The first stretch is up to the given ratio as based on the original size of the skin, and somewhat less than the breaking or tearing limit, and the next stretch transverse to the first draws out the contracted skin to the desired ratio as to its original dimension and less than the tearing limit in that direction so as to leave some stretch in the skin in the direction of the last stretch.

Now by cutting the glove blanks from the skin with their lengths in the direction of last stretch it will be seen that the backs, when sewed into the glove, will have capacity for lengthwise stretch as the wearer's hand is closed in them. This is a distinct improvement over the old method of taking up all of the stretch possible in the final tensioning step thus prohibiting finger and back stretch in the ultimate glove.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for uniformly stretching a glove skin throughout in one operation from margin to margin between two opposite sides of the skin, including elongate devices for gripping respective opposite margins of the skin along continuous lines and including means for applying local tension to certain portions of the skin during the operation of stretching, and means for relatively separating the said devices to elongate the skin substantially parallel to the free edges extending from device to device; said local tension means including parts arranged between the gripping devices and presenting elongate edges to transversely engage and slidably support contiguous portions of the skin being tensioned and said part edges including longitudinally, convexly curved portions whereby differential degrees of tension is set up across the skin from one gripping means to the other at different zones between the skin edges at the ends of the gripping means.

2. Skin stretching apparatus including a table having guides provided with a set of parallel, relatively separable slides each provided with a pair of elongate, relatively movable gripping elements closable frictionally upon interposed medial portions of the skin adjacent its central zone and extending from side edge to side edge thereof to grip the skin while it is placed under uniform tension by relative separation of the said slides and for slidably releasing either end of the skin being stretched or both ends and one of said elements having a row of cushioning parts for differentially stretching the skin in zones from one gripping means to the other.

3. Apparatus for stretching glove skin from a central zones thereof outwardly to parallel edges; comprising a pair of oppositely arranged, gripping means movable into juxtaposition and each including elongate, cooperative bed and pressure elements separable to provide for introduction of the skin while said means are juxtaposed so that the elements may be closed on a central or medial zone of the skin with the remaining portions free outwardly from the respective gripping means, means for closing the gripping or pressure elements to frictionally hold the skin and to provide for slipping thereof at will, and supporting entially tension the same at zones across the skin, and means for relatively separating the closed gripping means to tension the skin.

4. In a glove skin stretching machine, a frictionally acting gripping device including an elongate presser member and an elongate element on which a portion of the skin to be stretched may be applied and gripped thereto by said member; said element having a laterally and longitudinally extending part adapted to be moved upward to engage and tension a given area of the skin passing between said member and said element during the stretching operation.

5. In a sheet stretching machine, a pair of cooperative elements closable to grip an interposed portion of the sheet on a continuous line from edge to edge; one of said elements having a part movable to engage and tension a given area of the sheet during the stretching operation, and in which said part includes a. row of flexible tensioning fingers to engage the skin.

6. Sheet stretching apparatus including a table having a pair of opposite, guided slides and means for concurrently moving the slides, each slide having an elongate lower bed forming element, the elements being substantially, relatively parallel and transverse to the motions of the slides and presenting continuous top-line portions over which the skin may be draped from one element to the other, and upper elongate presser members movably connected to the slides to be opened from or closed to the relative elements for insertion of and gripping upon a sheet, and control means to close the presser members to nonslidably hold the sheet while it is tensioned by relative separation of the slides, or to reduce the pressure and permit the gripped sheet to slip while it is being tensioned from one bed element to the other and resilient means for effecting differential zone tension on the sheet while gripped and stretched.

'7. Apparatus as set forth, having opposed sheet-gripping means including a row of cushioning fingers with tips in an are along the row to specially tension given portions of the sheet extending between the said means gripping the sheet.

8. Means to grip on relatively spaced portions of a sheet along opposite, substantially continuous lines thereof, including frictional clamping devices which are relatively separable whereby to stretch the sheet clamped therebetween, and each including a row of resilient cushions presenting sheet gripping faces in a curved line whereby to specially tension given area of the gripped and stretched sheet.

9. In a skin stretching apparatus; a frame having guides provided with opposed devices movable into juxtaposition and including in each, a bed element and a presser element relatively separable for arrangement of the medial part of a skin between the two devices with the remaining portions of the skin draped free outwardly from the bed elements in juxtaposition, and said devices operative to grip the skin on continuous lines at the medial portion from edge to edge thereof, that is to the ends of said portion, each of said devices including skin supports having elongate bowed edges for differentially tensioning zones of the skin between said supports while the skin is drawn, and means for relatively separating the said devices to tension the gripped skin.

10. In a glove skin stretching machine, a. pair of cooperative elements closable to grip an interposed portion of the skin on a continuous line from edge to edge of the skin; one of said elements having a part provided with an elongate row of relatively yieldable cushions reactive against the applied skin to differentially tension it as drawn between the closed elements.

11. A machine as in claim 10, and in which the outer ends of the cushions lie in a curved line along the row.

CARL HUGO JOI-IANSON. 

